National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Social Media Storm

National Gun Violence Awareness Day

Friday June 2nd is National Gun Violence Awareness Day, and INAAP would like to invite you to take part in our efforts to spread awareness of this very important issue.

The theme of the day is “Wear Orange,” a reference to the orange that hunters wear to protect themselves and others. On June 2, INAAP and AAP will be turning their social media profiles orange and sharing messages about gun violence prevention on Facebook and Twitter using #WearOrange. We encourage you to participate in the conversation and to also wear orange!

Tag @IND_AAP in your twitter posts, and @Indiana Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics in your facebook posts, and we will re-share as many as possible. Please visit http://wearorange.org for more information, and use this free tool to turn your social media profile picture orange for the day.

Below are a few sample posts that you can use to get started:

Each year in the United States, nearly 300 children gain access to a firearm and unintentionally shoot someone. We can do better!

1.7 million American children live in homes with guns that are both loaded and unlocked. Check your home today!

Every year, nearly 500 children 17 and under die by suicide with a gun. Visit http://besmartforkids.org/ to learn how to protect kids!

If your child is going to play or hang out at a home where he hasn’t been before, ask if there is a gun in that home.

3 in 4 children ages 5-14 know where firearms are kept in a home. Make sure they are stored safe and secure. http://besmartforkids.org/

1 in 3 homes with kids have guns, and many are left unlocked or loaded. Know if the home where child is visiting has guns.

A gun in the home is 22 times more likely to be used in domestic homicide, suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense.

As pediatricians and nurse practitioners, we have a responsibility to advocate for children’s health. Because firearms are a leading killer of children in our country, our advocacy must include working to reduce the burden of firearm morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. We hope you will join us in our efforts!